Secret Behind Bajaj Dominar 400’s Killer Pricing

Among the main reasons for the curiosity generated by the new Bajaj Dominar 400 is its pricing. The new power cruiser from Bajaj carries a sticker price of Rs 1.36 lakh for the base variant while the ABS variant retails for Rs 1.5 lakh (both ex-showroom Delhi). At the above price point, the Bajaj Dominar 400 is definitely good value for money. What’s really interesting is the fact that the Dominar 400 shares its powerplant with the KTM 390 Duke, yet, is cheaper by almost Rs 50,000 which is a lot of money. We figure out how Bajaj Auto managed to price the Dominar 400 so competitively! 

What the fork!

The Bajaj Dominar 400 was showcased in its concept avatar as the Pulsar CS400 at the 2014 Auto Expo. An interesting feature of the concept motorcycle was that it was shod with USD forks that endowed the bike with a low slung stance. When the test bikes were spotted, they were running on conventional telescopic forks, which eventually made their way into the production bike. Apart from looking great, USD forks aid in improving handling dynamics of a bike and are commonly found on premium motorcycles. But this benefit comes at a cost and USD forks are almost five times more expensive than telescopic forks. While the KTM 390 Duke is a more focussed performance bike, the Dominar 400’s intention is touring and hence it was equipped with beefy telescopic forks, thereby cutting costs. Also the monoshock setup on the KTM is sourced from WP and is priced at a premium over the locally built Nitrox monoshock unit seen on the Dominar 400.

Different set of shoes:

The KTM 390 Duke’s handling is among its highlights. The brilliant handling dynamics of the bike can be credited to its wonderful chassis and the super sticky Metzeler tyres. The Metzeler tyres, in our opinion, are among the best set of tyres on sale in the Indian market and the soft compound rubber offers stupendous levels of grip in both dry and wet conditions. But like all good things in life, the Metzeler tyres are priced at a premium and also have a low running life. For the above reasons, Bajaj has shod the new Dominar 400 with MRF sourced Revz C1 tyres which are considerably cheaper than the Metzelers and play a key role in keeping the sticker price low while offering better longevity. 

Also Read: Bajaj Dominar 400 Review

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Matter of Heart:

Although the powerplant of the Dominar 400 has been based on that of the KTM 390 Duke, there are a lot of differences between them. The engine block is the same but the Dominar 400’s mill employs a rather simpler and cheaper single overhead cam (SOHC) as opposed to the double overhead cam (DOHC) unit as seen on the KTM. The Austrian two-wheeler giant also used NaCaSil cylinder coating on the 390 Duke which Bajaj has skipped, to drop costs. Also, the motor hasn’t been built using lighter and more expensive material like the 390’s powerplant which weighs a meagre 36kg. 

Underpinnings:

One look at the spec sheet and you will understand a startling difference between the two motorcycles and that is the weight. The KTM 390 Duke tips the scales at 139kg while the Dominar is a hefty 182kg. The Austrian bike employs a lightweight chromium-molybdenum trellis frame, while the Dominar 400 is equipped with a pressed steel perimeter frame which is significantly heavier. The swingarm on the KTM is also crafted from a light alloy material which is more expensive to manufacture. 

Family Affair:

Another important aspect that has contributed in Bajaj’s cutthroat pricing is the sharing of parts between different motorcycles. We have seen that being implemented successfully in the Bajaj Pulsar family and with more variants of the Dominar in the pipeline, it allows the Chakan based two-wheeler giant to play the volumes game and price the product competitively. The Bajaj Dominar 400 shares it suspension setup, switchgear and the perimeter frame components with the Pulsar RS200 and this enables it to be priced so competitively.

Yet, despite the above measures for keeping the cost of the motorcycle as less as possible, Bajaj hasn't skipped on features and equipement. The Bajaj Dominar 400 gets equipped with LED headlights, all-digital instrument console, slipper clutch and optional dual-channel ABS which at the above pricing is really a commendable effort by Bajaj Auto.

Also, watch the Bajaj Dominar 400 Video Review here.